Code key cutting machine



J. E. COLE CODE KEY CUTTING MACHINE Jan. 17, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1950 INVENTOR Joseph E. Cafe (LAW gfim

' ATTORNEY Jan. 17, J COLE CODE KEY CUTTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1950 INVENTOR Joseph E. Cole A; ATTORNEY Jan. 17, 1956 J. E. COLE 2,731,087

CODE KEY CUTTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 2 iklllilllll Jan. 17, 1956 J, 5, com: 2,731,087

CODE KEY CUTTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Joseph E. Cole /1;.1 ATTORNEY Jan. 17, 1956 J. E. COLE 2,731,087

CODE KEY CUTTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIII'II- INVENTOR Q- Joseph E. Cole 33 BY ATTORNEY 1956 J. E. COLE 2,731,087

CODE KEY CUTTING MACHINE Fild Oct. 14, 1950 55 I I'K 80 T M2 [25a HZ 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 'll I.

INVENTOR Joseph E. Cole 29% W64, 4% ATTORNEY United States Patent O CGDE KEY CUTTING MACHINE Joseph E. Cole, South Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Howard Freedman, Evanston, iii.

Application October 14, 1950, Serial No. 19%,127

14 Claims. (Cl. 164-50) This invention relates to key Cutting machines, and more particularly to machines for cutting keys by code, and still more particularly to a manually operated and portable machine for cutting keys.

It is an object of my invention to provide a key cutting device in the form of a hand operated punch or readily portable bench tool in which manual operation is employed to cut keys after an established pattern or code with regard to the depth and location of the bits to be formed on the key blank.

My invention has for its object the provision of a manually operable portable or bench type of key cutter or hand punch in which the bitting operation to remove segments of the key blank in accordance with the location of the tumbler mechanism for supplying a coded portion of bitted segments on the key involves mechanism for arranging the key in relation to the cutting mechanism, organized in a novel way to provide simplicity of operation in indexing the adjustable portions of the machine in accordance with the code characteristics to be embodied in the key.

Still further objects of my invention reside in the provision in a manually operable key cutting device for code cutting of keys, of disk and cam operated resilient follower means for adjusting the depth of cut by punch or bitting mechanism which has a high order of accuracy as well as variability to accommodate the device to a wide variety of code combinations and keys, and more particularly to accommodate the device to keys handed to the right or left, or to keys of single or double bit, and key blanks with a variety of ward contours and locations.

My invention more specifically involves combining in a portable or manually operable key cutter of the punch type, removable camming disks for a key blank carriage which may be readily embodied in the assembly to provide innumerable combinations of bits to be cut in the key and to accurately adjust the blank to be cut with regard to the depth of shank as Well as relative depths of the bitted tumbler actuating elements.

Still more particularly it is an object of my invention to provide in a portable, manually operable key cutting machine, versatility for handling keys of various outline and hand by including adjusting means for the key blank carriage comprising depth control cams which carry indicia for readily ascertaining the desired code, whereby numerous code combinations may be provided by a simple number of coding disks controlling the depth and position of the cutting operation performed on the key blank.

Still more particularly it is an object of my invention to provide in a portable, manually operable key cutting machine versatility for handling whereby one hand may be used to manipulate the coding element and the other may be used for indexing the key in relation to a cutter, to form a bitted edge or edges, the relationship of the indexing element permitting of facile handling of the cutter and allowing for interchangeability of the indexing element whereby a large variety of coded contours may be formed into the key.

2,731,087 Patented Jan. 17, 1956 'ice Other objects of my invention reside in embodying in a novel assembly of a portable punch type cutter features whereby quick changes may be effected in the indexing or coding elements for the production of various coded, bitted sections on the key blanks while procuring accuracy of adjustment in predetermined positions required in the key.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my device;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1, on a smaller scale;

Figure 2A is a perspective of the carriage block;

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is a staggered enlarged section, taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is an enlarged section taken on the line 88 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section similar to Figure 6, showing another position of the assembly;

Figure 10 is an enlarged section taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a section taken on the line 1111 of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a magnified exploded perspective view of a detail of key seat.

Summarizing my invention, I contemplate providing a readily portable key cutter wherein a manually operable plunger cuts out by a punching operation the edges of the key blank to form the bitted edges thereof, there being.

provided a carrier for clamping the key blank including. means for accurately seating such key blank, and includ-- ing interchangeable camming disks for adjusting the key carrier in relation to the punch or cutter to shape the bitted edges in accordance with a predetermined code, the disks, for camming the key carrier With respect to the cutter spacially along the length of the key and at different depths edgewise being replaceable to secure a wide range of codes which may be cut on the key and the carrier having interchangeable key seats further to increase the variables of code combinations which may be cut into the key and to accommodate the cutting device to a large variety of keys. The inveniton also includes the incorporation in a portable and manually operable key cutter or punch of a novel carrier for accurately seating the key blanks before clamping.

Making reference to the drawing, I provide a standard it) in the form of a hand gripping member, to the bottom end 11 of which there may be provided a base 12 having open ended slots 13 for slidable engagement of the standard to a work bench 14 by headed screws 15, if desired. The upper end of the standard 10 is formed with a carriage supporting branch 16 transverse to the standard, from which extends the rear lug i7 and the front lug 18.

The lugs 17 and 18 extend above the edge 19 to provide a guideway for a punch or cutter bar 20, whose end 21 extends through the rear lug through the boring 22 into the slot 23, providing branches 24 and 25 for pivotally mounting the hand grip lever 26 by means of the pivot pin 2'7 passing through the head 28. A camrning face 29 is arranged to engage the end 21 of the cutter bar 20.

An expansion spring 30 is sleeved over the cutter bar 29 and is biased at one side against the forward lug 18 and on its other and against the removable cross pin 31 whose lower end 32 is guided in a guide slot 33 formed in the branch 16 to restrain the cutting bar from rotary movement from the selected position of the cutter. The hand grip lever 26 is therefore normally biased to the position shown in full lines in Figure 2. its movement counter-clockwise may be limited by the set screw 3%.

The branch 16 terminates in an upright 35. The cutter bar 26 extends through guide slots 36 and 3, formed in the forward lug 1S and upright 35, respectively, to receive the bit cutter end 3% and extension guide end 38 which may be projected across the slot 3? formed between the lug l8 and the upright An anvil plate 40 is mounted on the face 41 of the upright 35 by the screw 52, to align the female portion of the cutter as with the male portion 3%, previously described, the cutting portions 33 and die portion 4% being suitably hardened for cutting.

The slot 39 provides a guideway for the key holding carriage 43, which is'mounted on the anchoring block dd comprising branches 45 and 46. A connecting screw 37 passes through the bottom branch 48 to hold the block 44 against displacement on the branch 16 (see Figure 6).

The branches 45 and 4d are formed with drill hole guideways 49 and 50, in which are seated expansion springs 51 and 52, respectively, to act against the guide pins 55 and 54, extending from the vertical adjustment block 55.

The block 55 has a wear plate 56 of hardened steel, held thereto by the set screws 57 for contact by the cam 58, which is mounted on the extension 35 by the bolt 59. The bolt 5? has a head so and a neck and shoulder 61 for revolubly mounting the cam 58, however providing by the neck extension means to tension the wing nut 62, to bind the depth indicia plate 63 against the face 41 of the extension 35. The depth indicia plate 3 has a zero reference indicia 6,4- Which may be aligned with the reference line 65 on the extension 35. A change in the zero setting of the indicia provides a variable factor with the same camming characteristics of the depth indicia plate since the same rise of cam can be used from a diiferent starting point. A slot so formed in the plate and terminating in the periphery permits bodily removal of the plate 63 over the shank 52.

The cam 53 is formed with a boss 67, within which there is sleeved the latching plunger 68, having a stop pin 69- at one end for engaging any one of the series of indexing apertures 76 in the indicia plate as. An expansion spring 71 biases the latching plunger 53 into projecting position. A knob '72 is provided to withdraw the pin 6? from the latched position, in engagement with any one of the apertures 76, as will be readily understood.

The cam 58 carries an indicator 73 for alignment with the indicia markings M. The cam 53 has its camming surface 75 in contact with the follower plate 56, previously described, and mounted on the block 55, to provide by the action of the springs and. 52 on the pins 53 and 54, a transversely, resiliently mounted assembly with respect to the branch 16. The carriage previously mentioned has a rack bar 76 which may be housed in the guide slot 77 of the block 55, to position the sliding edge 75 on the seat 79 and to present the rack teeth 3'9 adjacent the upper wall of the slot 77.

The block 55, at its lowermost portion, has extensions 55a defining slots 55!), through which the cutter bar end 3% extends. Fingers 55c extend beneath the carriage 53.

The edge '73 of the rack bar '76 extends in a position to clear, on its lower edge, the path of movement of the punch 3% in the relative movement of the block 55 to the block id. A plate ill holds the rack bar 76 in the slot 77 of the carriage block 55 by means of the spring washer 81 on resilient mounting screws 82 which hold the plate 81 on the block 55 frictionally, in any adjusted position.

The block 55', to the right side thereof when viewed from the front, as shown in Figure 6, is provided with an extension segment 83 through which is extended rotatably a-shaft 84, having a pinion d5 keyed thereto for engagement with the rack teeth of the-rack76. The outer 4 end 86 of the shaft 84 is splined or flattened at 87, and fitted into a correspondingly bored turn-knob 88 and fixed along the length of theishaft by the set screw 89. The extension segment has a wall 13:: cooperating with the wall 13b to form guides for sliding the block 55 on the block 18.

The turnbutton 8:3 is spaced from the face 99 of the block 33 to receive the spacer disk i i. The spacer disk is formed with a slot Q2 to ride over the shaft 84. The slot is arranged to span the shouldered nut 93 into which screw-threaded the thumb screw 94 for binding the spacer disk 91 to the turnbutton 8S, and thereby keying the plate 91 for rotation with the shaft 84. The spacer disk 91 has a series of notches d5 in its periphery, with suitable indicia E6 to identify the same. The notches are radially positioned in the path of the latch 97, which is pivoted in the slot 98 by the cross pin 99. The latch is formed with a pawl Tilt and a handle Till to one side thereof. The latch has an extension finger Hi2 engaged by a spring 1% within the recess 31%, normally to urge the pawl 1% of the latch into engagement with the periphery of the disk 91. The latch end lb-5 has a plurality of detent seats and l t! to one side of the finger 1% for engagement with the ball det nt 109 spring pressed into the boring lid, to lie in the path of the latch end 195. The detent it is in 2 passed dead-center position with regard to the tongue 132, to augment its spring action, tending to push tie pawl 1% into engagewith the spacer notches or, alternatively, to hold the latch in a partially or fully raised position, upon engagement with the detent seats 1M and 187.

The rack '76 has affixed to it the backing plate 111 by screws 112. The backing plate 111 has a key-back seat 113 over which may he slid the removable spacer block 114, which is formed with an offset slot 115 to ride upon the seat 113. Aheaded pin 116 is seated in the boring 117 and is provided with a projecting spring 113 to direct the end 119 normally outwardly. The spacer block 114 is formed with borings 120 to receive the end 119 and to hold the spacer block 114 from sliding endwise over the seat 113. The spacer block 114 has branches 12,1 and 122 of different thicknesses, so that either the thin branch or the thick branch may lie in parallelism with one side of the seat 113. A tool 123 has a hooked portion 124, which may enter the borings 12d and depress the pin 115, to slide the spacer block out of engagement with the seat 113. A key-seat plate 125 which is attached to the rack 76 by screws 125a has a cutout 125 to span the plate 111 and is formed with symmetrically dependent stops 127 and 128 projecting to each side of the block 44. Key shoulder stops 129 and 130 project upwardly from the plate 125, for purposes which will appear more clearly as this description proceeds.

The carriage 43 has dependent segments 131 and 132 from which rearwardly project the bosses 133 and 134. Borings 135 in the bosses are screw-threaded to receive the thumb screws 136 to hold key clamp blocks 137. The key clamp blocks are recessed at 13% to receive the expansion springs 139. A flange let) on each of the blocks engages a slot 141 in the extension to hold the clamp blocks 137 against tilting or rotation. The spring 139, as described, serves to move and space the clamp jaw 142 when the thumb screw 136 is released.

With the construction described, a key blank K may be positioned for cutting upon release of the thumb screws 136 to have the head M3 fall within the slot 144. The key shank 145 may be backed to have its edge against the block 114. The key shoulder 146 is pressed against the key-shoulder stop 13%) in the example illustrated, as more clearly apparent from viewing Figure 9.

In order correctly to align the key back shank 145 with the block 114, there is provided a pair of key seating push plungers 147, each of which extends into the borings 148 and are held against displacement by the cross pin 149 entering the spline 150. Each of'the key seatingpush plungers 147 has a head 151 engaged by the retractor spring 152. Each of the push plungers 147 has a pressure finger 153 normally withdrawn below the surface 154 of the block 44.

Upon locating a key blank upon the key seating plate 125 to contact the key shoulder 146 against the stop 130, the seating plunger M7 is pressed against the key blank edge 155, to bring the back 145 in contact with the block 114. In this position the corresponding thumb screw 136 is tensioned to clamp the clamp jaw 142 securely upon the key head 1432, thereby holding the key blank securely and accurately on the key blank seat.

For keys such as automobile ignition keys or the like in which a predetermined coded bit is to be cut, the key is ready for cutting. The latch 101 is released by raising to the dotted position shown in Figure 7 and the thumb knob 88 is then turned to align the carriage to the first position by shifting the notch 95 of the spacer 91 carrying the first indicia 96, with a counterclockwise movement as viewed in Figure 5.

Rotation of the knob in turn rotates the pinion 85 through the shaft 84, engaging the rack bar 76 to move the carriage and the key clamp thereon to a predetermined #1 position. Having determined that the key in the #1 position requires a bit depth in accordance with a predetermined code, for example, a depth of 3 on the depth disk 63, the cam 58 is rotated by withdrawing the pin 69 from engagement with the indexing apertures 70 to locate the point 73 adjacent the corresponding indicia 74 which, as shown in Figure 4, is opposite the depth in dicia of the value 3. Such movement causes the block 55, in engagement with the camming surface 75, to follow the cam surface under the impetus of the spring. In this position the knob 72 is released and the key is now ready for its first cut, involving manually pressing the levers and 26 toward each other, as shown in Figure 2.

With this operation performed and the cutter bar with drawn to the normal position under the influence. of the spring 3%, the spacer adjustment by the knob 83 is made to the #2 position. The latch 97 may be tripped to ride on the periphery of the disk 91 so that the operator in moving from #1 position to #2 position cannot override the second notch 95, as the latch 97 will be spring pressed to direct the pawl run into the notch as the notch reaches the aligned position. When the second adjustment space step has been effected, the depth adjustment by the depth cam 58 is carried out in accordance with the code indication for the second position by indexing the cam 58, as previously described, to select the appropriate indexing aperture 70.

By the construction described, employing the selected spacer disk 1, and a selected depth disk 63, a combination of coded, bitted edges may be cut of a code comprising as the possibilities the permutations and combinations corresponding thereto.

With the same depth disk 63 and a change in a predetermined position of the reference indicia 65, a large variety of different code depths may be secured. Likewise, variation in the depth of the shank of the key may be met by the employment of the variants incident to usingthe seat block 113 or a block 114, with the alternative depth afiorded by the dissimilar branches 121 and 122.

The provision of a plurality of blocks, such as 114, with different dimensional variants in the side branches will permit of meeting the requirements of different keys with differing reference distances between the key back 145 and the edge to be bitted 155.

The symmetrical arrangement of the carriage as provided by the construction illustrated, with the symmetrically positioned key head clamps permits of the cutting of single right or left hand keys or double bitted key blanks, as conditions may require, the operation being repeated, employing the opposite key blank seat and key shoulder stops to the opposite side of the carriage 43, it being observed that the safety stops 127 and 128 restrain movement of the key carriage to a position wherein the key blank may have punched from it the key shoulder intended to engage the key hole ward plate.

An accurate contact of the key stop 146 with the stop i349 and the back of the key with the depth block 113 or 114 assures an accurate cutting of the key by the cutter.

While l have shown and described a key-clamp carriage which is suitable for a single bitted or double bitted key and may employ various depth disks in combination with various spacing disks, my invention is readily adapted to differently handed keys in which a large number of combinations of codes may be bitted on the keys, employing merely a predetermined depth cut or punch of the cutter with a variety of spacial positions of the cutting operations with respect to the key. For this purpose the key setting plate and the position of the key shoulder stop 1.30 may be changed in accordance with the type of key which is to be cut, to correlate the position of the key shank back and key shoulder stop to each other.

I have, in accordance with the disclosure of the key cutting device, provided a simple key duplicating device which is capable of cutting keys by a punching operation following a coded relationship of the bits to the key shank, without necessarily requiring one already cut to serve as a master to be followed in duplicating keys by power driven instrumentalities which require an accurate coordination or" the tracer arm and cutter to assure accuracy in cutting operations.

By my construction, a wide variety of key blanks may be cut with the same depth disks since there is the cyclical arrangement of these members with respect to a zero reference line and this therefore provides the ability to shift the zero point to accommodate a varying width of goods to be cut as the cam rise, being the same, the same code variants may be cut.

Likewise, in view of the low pitch which may be employed in the depth cam, the spring pressure employed in the follower and which actuates the carriage eliminates any possibility of inaccuracy and alterations due to tension and pressure involved in shifting the parts have no effect upon the depth of cut to be made.

it will also be observed that l have provided in combination with the manually operable punch type cutter, novel adjusting means comprising the depth cam and key holding carriage as a follower, with indexing disks, including mounting means for said disks, which permits of quick replacement of the removabledisks by the same mounting mechanism which integrates the spacer mechanism, such as the rack and pinion and depth cam, whereby adjustability over a wide range of variables may be quickly and economically obtained in a compact assembly.

By my construction it will be observed that accurate sequential operation of the spacial adjusting mechanism is assured, so that error in cutting in accordance with a code is minimized, if not entirely eliminated. By the spring positioning of the carriage as a follower for the depth cam, inaccuracies in adjustment are avoided in positioning the key blank in the carriage camming device.

in general, i have provided a manually operable key cutting device wherein accuracy of key cutting with compactness of adjustment of the various parts is obtained in a novel assembly.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A portable hand key cutter for hitting a key blank for cutting bits of various depths at various locations on the key blank having, in combination, a frame and a punch bar for cutting bits mounted thereon for sliding movement, a key biank clamping carriage on said frame transversely movable in respect of said punch bar, providing lengthwise shifting of the key blank in relation to the path of cutting of said punch bar, carriage shifting means to effect said transverse movement of said carriage, an extension on said frame transversely directed in respect of the carriage, depth shifting low pitch cam means mounted on said extension, means for guiding the carriage for depth shifting along said extension, locating the key blank carried thereby across the path of movement of said punch bar, a cam follower co-acting with said depth shifting means and spring means for urging said cam follower into constant contact With said cam means, to hold the key blank carriage depthwise in the path of movement of said punch bar.

2. The combination in a portable hand key cutter of a punch bar and punch operating means for the same for bitting a key blank for cutting bits or" various depths at various locations thereof, a frame for slidably mounting a punch bar, punch operating means adjacent one end of said punch bar, a key blank carriage supported on the frame adjacent the opposite end of said punch bar, key blank clamping means on said carriage, an extension upright on said frame, mounting means comprising a block for said carriage having slidable connection lengthwise of said extension upright for depth adjustment of said carriage relative to said frame across the path of movement of said punch bar, gear and rack adjusting means carried respectively by said block and carriage for shifting said carriage relatively to said mounting means for said carriage, spring means for shifting said block in one direction across the path of said punch bar and means on said extension upright comprising low pitch cam means in constant contac with a follower portion on said block providing shifting means for adjustably controlling the depth of position of said block in the opposite direction to that of said spring means.

3. A portable hand key cutter for bitting a key blank for cutting bits of various depths at various locations on the key blank raving, in combination, a frame, a standard for supporting said frame, a punch bar slidable on said frame and a manually operable punch lever for said bar mounted on said frame adjacent one end of said bar, an extension upright at the opposite end of said frame, a key clamping carriage having a block slidably mounted and guided on said extension upright for movement lengthwise thereof providing depthwise adjustment means in relation to said punch bar, transversely mounted carriage shifting means for said carriage comprising a rack on said carriage and a pinion on said block, said depthwise adjustment means comprising cooperative spring means to shift said block on said guide relatively to said frame and a low pitch cam and cam follower mounted on said extension and block, respectively, said cam and follower being in constant contact with each other under the influence of said spring means for varying the position of said block in the opposite dir ction, in adjustment of the carriage in relation to said key punch bar.

In a portable hand key cutter for hitting a key blank by cutting the bits of various depths at various locations on the key blank having, in combination, a frame and a manually operable punch bar mounted there on, actuating means for said punch bar adjacent one end of said punch bar remote from the cutter end, a guide on said frame adjacent the cutter end, a carriage slidably mounted on said guide guided across the path of movement of said punch bar, a key clamp on said carriage to hold a key blank with a portion in the path of movement of the cutter end of said punch bar, the combination the-r With of a key seat on said carriage for booking a key blanl to be cut, a plunger pin guided in opposed relation to said seat on said carriage and directed normally with respect to said seat on said key clamp for engaging the key blank for seating a key blank with relation to the said seat.

5. A portable hand key critter for bitting a key to cut bits of various depths at various locations on the key blank, having a frame and a punch bar manually actuated means adjacent one end of said bar, a carriage having adjusting means relatively to said punch bar slidable transversely adjacent the other end of said punch bar, a key blank seat for predeterminedly positioning a key blank in a clamped position on said carriage, and key locating means comprising manually operable plunger means, said plunger means having edgeWisely directed guide means with respect to the key blank on said carriage, for positioning a key blank on said carriage and under the influence of said manual plunger means to press the same on said seat.

6. in a portable hand key cutter for bitting a key blank to out bits of various depths at various locations on the key blank, having a frame and a shiftable carriage including a key seat positionable by shifting said carriage between a key cutter and anvil, the combination with S: d key seat of a spring retractile plunger pin on said carriage incl ding guide means for said plunger pin directing said pin transversely to and from said seat and extending an end of said pin normally to said seat for seating the key on the seat of said carriage.

7. A portable hand key cutter for bitting a key blank to cut bits of various depths at various locations on the key blank, having a frame, a punch bar and anvil on said frame, a carr'age adjustably mounted on said frame for variously positioning the key blank in the path of said punch bar and anvil, a key blank seat on the carriage, clamping means for the key blank to hold the same on e seat of said carriage, and a spring retractile' pin to ress the key blank on said seat having guide means on aid carriage directing said pin transversely and normally 0 and against said seat for positioning said key backed on the seat While in the position between said punch bar and anvil.

3. A portable hand key cutting machine for cutting bits of various depths and at various locations on a key blank CQi prising, in combination, a frame, a punch bar and anvil on said frame, a carriage for adjustably holdthe key blank between said punch bar and anvil, a key back seat on said carriage, key blank clamping means on said carriage to hold the key blank against said key back seat, and means comprising a slide having guide means positioned to slide to and from the seat for engaging a key blank to direct and press the same on said key back seat under manual pressure and to extend the key blank between said punch bar and anvil, said slide being normally in a retracted position with respect to said key back seat.

9. A portable hand key cutting machine for cutting bits of various depths and at various locations on the key blank comprising, in combination, a frame, a punch bar and anvil on said frame, a carriage for adjustably holding a key blank between said punch bar and anvil, a key back engageable seat on said carriage, key blank clamping means on said carriage to hold the key blank against said seat, and means comprising a slide having guide means positioned to slide to and from the seat for engaging a key blank to direct and press the same on said key back seat to extend the key blank between said punch bar and anvil, said seating means comprising a spring biased retractile plunger key engaging contact at one end and a pressure button on its opposite end.

l0. .ln a portable hand key cutting device for cutting bits of various depths and at various locations on the key blank, a frame, the combination with said frame of a punch bar and anvil die, a carriage slidable on said frame for spacial and depth adjustment of a key blank transversely in between said punch bar and anvil die in the path of said punch bar including key clamping means on said carriage, a key guide plate on the carriage for seating the key blank and pressure applying means including pin plunger elements for movement of the pins to and fr In the guide plate having edgewise guiding means temporarily to hold said key blank against said seat provided by said key guide plate.

ll. in a portable hand key cutting device for cutting 9 bits of various depths and at various locations on a key blank having a frame, a plunger punch bar and anvil for punch bitting of a key blank, the combination therewith of a key blank carriage slidable transversely in a guide slot between the bar and anvil in the path of movement of said bar, said carriage having a stationary block forming a seat for the key back, a key blank clamp to hold said blank backed against said block, and a slidably removable key block nested upon and spanning said stationary key block, said removable key block having branches of dissimilar thickness and interchangeably mounted on said stationary block to provide a key seat of variable depth with respect to said plunger punch bar, and disengageable latching means for holding said removable key block in the reversible positions aforesaid.

12. A portable hand key cutter for cutting hits of various depths at various locations on a key blank, having a frame, a punch bar and anvil for hitting a key blank thereon, a key clamping carriage on said frame transversely slidably mounted in a slot in a guide having a path between said bar and said anvil in the path of said punch bar, carriage shifting means for spacially positioning a key clamped on said carriage in key punching position in the path of said punch bar, said carriage shifting means having sequentially controlled means for said shifting means, a manually operable spacer control knob connected to a pinion having driving connection to a rack coupled with said carriage shifting means, a spacer disk including indicia for said carriage, a latching member mounted for movement to and from said disk engaging said spacer disk selectively on notches formed thereon or alternatively in an inoperative position and latch tripping means having a detent to urge said latch into disk engaging position sequentially to engage said spacer disk.

13. A portable hand key cutter for cutting bits of various depths at various locations on a key blank, having a frame, a guide on said frame, a carriage block on said guide, a punch bar and anvil on said frame, a key clamp carriage transversely slidable on said block along said guide across the path of and between said punch bar and anvil, a carriage spacer assembly mounted on said block for guiding the carriage in said path of said punch bar, a manually operable knob rotatably mounted on said block having means engaging said carriage, said spacer assembly comprising a spacer disk mounted on said knob including means for removably clamping said spacer disk to said knob, said disk having indexing notches and indicia to locate the same, a spring biased spacer latch on said block for engaging said notches on said disk and detent means for said latch sequentially to engage said notches on said disk in adjustment of the latch and spacer knob.

14. A portable hand key cutter for cutting bits of various depths at various locations spaced on a key blank, having in combination a frame, a punch bar and anvil die mounted on the frame, an extension on said frame transversely directed to the path of movement of said punch bar, a guide on said extension, a key clamping carriage having means to slidably mount said carriage on said guide towards and from said punch bar to direct a key blank on the carriage in a path transverse to the movement of said punch bar, depth and special adjustment means on said extension and carriage respectively, means'for imparting movement for the said depth and spacial adjustment, and indexing means for said last mentioned means, a removable'disk on said extension means with which said indexing means coacts, a rotatable member on said extension for mounting said disk including clamping means comprising a stepped shoulder shaft member on said extension for holding said disk in predetermined position fixedly While rotatably mounting said indexing means on said shoulder shaft member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

